Representational
Aroma Chundan, rowed by the Aroma Boat Club of Pooyapilly, Kollam, clinched the Raja Pramukhan Trophy at the Moolam Boat Race held on the Pampa river at Champakulam in Kuttanad on Monday (June 29, 2026).
Nadubhagom Chundan, rowed by the Nadubhagom Boat Club, finished second, while Naduvileparamban Chundan, steered by the NCDC Boat Club, Kumarakom, secured the third position. As many as seven snake boats competed in the Chundan Vallam category.
Competitions were also held in the Veppu and Iruttukuthi categories. In the Veppu A Grade event, Jayshot Pulickathara, rowed by the Jayasree Boat Club, Veliyanad, emerged as the winners, while Punnatharapurackal, represented by the Kondakkal Boat Club, Nadubhagom, bagged the Veppu B Grade title.
In the Iruttukuthi A Grade category, P.G. Karnan, rowed by the MBC Boat Club, Mepral, secured the top spot, while St. Joseph of the Kings Boat Club, Vaisyabhagom, won the Iruttukuthi B Grade race.
The traditional rituals associated with the boat race were observed ahead of the event, with representatives of the Travancore Devaswom Board visiting the Champakulam Madathil Temple, the Mappilassery ancestral home, and the Kalloorkad St. Mary’s Basilica.
Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh inaugurated the event and said the government would consider enhancing financial assistance for the boat race. According to him, the government is actively examining the possibility of increasing the allocation for the league and assured that it would be conducted this year as in previous editions.
District Collector Shaji V. Nair hoisted the race flag, while Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, presented trophies to the winners. Kuttanad MLA Reji Cheriyan presided over the inaugural function. District panchayat president A. Mahendran, Champakulam block panchayat president Tijin Joseph, actor Pramod Veliyanad, Kuttanad tahsildar U. Rajeev and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
Local holiday issue
The event this time was held against the backdrop of protests over the reported refusal by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to declare a local holiday for the historic boat race. Days before the event, members of the Champakulam Moolam Jalolsavam Fans Club had staged a protest at the Champakulam bus stand by burning an effigy of the Chief Minister.
The controversy arose after Mr. Cheriyan, during a submission in the Assembly a few days ago, sought a local holiday for the historic boat race. Responding to the request, the Chief Minister said over the microphone that the government would examine the matter and take an appropriate decision.
However, a video that subsequently surfaced on social media purportedly showed the Chief Minister, after taking his seat, telling IUML leader and Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who was seated beside him, that the holiday would not be granted “under any circumstances.” The purported remark has since drawn criticism from the Opposition.
Protesters alleged that the refusal amounted to a slight against the MLA, who represents the ruling front, and reiterated their demand for a local holiday for Kuttanad. However, Mr. Cheriyan has since softened his earlier stand on the issue.
Published – June 29, 2026 07:49 pm IST
